I spent Corpus Christi in Andalucía this year. As in Scotland the feast has now sadly been transferred to the Sunday in Spain. The procession in Vélez Màlaga is nowhere near as magnificent as the Toledo version but was interesting to observe all the same. It wound its way through the (very hilly in parts) town passing all the churches and convents culminating with Benediction outside the Carmelite convent on the main street where a temporary (and very grand) altar had been set up. The elevation of the Blessed Sacrament was greeted with loud applause, cheers and a shower of rose petals from the belfry of the convent. The town band then struck up with the Marcha Real. How very different from the Corpus Christi processions of my childhood (now non-existent in this part of the world).

Earlier in the day I was amazed to see the boy racers who roar through the town in their souped up cars slow down to bless themselves as they passed the altar outside Las Carmelitas.

I hope to spend Holy Week in Vélez next year and, Deo volente, will be able to give an account of the various processions in the town which from the photographs, regalia and statuary on display in the Museo Semana Santa look magnificent - like Seville on a smaller scale.

Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia, et ubi ecclesia vita eterna

Pray for Francis our Pope, and for the Church of God

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